Game Developers Conference 2017 may be over but the year of gaming has just started.
The annual GDC ended last March 3, concluding a week of learning, cooperation, inspiration, and networking among video game developers around the word. The highlights include the Game Developers Choice Awards and the Independent Games Festival, with the latter becoming increasingly popular as a showcase for upcoming indie games.
Here are some of the indie darlings that caught attention at the GDC 2017.
Secret Legend
Do you like secrets? Then Secret Legend might show you some. Secret Legend is an isometric adventure game that evokes similarities with Zelda games. In this game, you will play as a fox with a shield and sword that you can swing at enemies. The brain behind this cute game is the one-man team of Andrew Shouldice. It will come on PC sometime in 2018.
Old Man's Journey
While most games focus more on fast-paced actions, there are those that slow it down so you can soak in the total experience — gameplay, music, story, and visuals like Old Man's Journey, a sidescrolling platformer game that lets you control an old man as he travels around. Visually rich and musically impressive, the game is a metaphorical journey about life — or in the old man's case, around European-inspired places. The game is developed by indie developer Broken Rules and set for launch this 2017.
Take a moment to savor the wisdom of these lines from the game's site:
Wander sun-drenched, rolling hills. / Cast shackles off your memories/ A final chance to seek amends / And find your heart / Once lost at sea.
Mages Of Mystralia
Fans of Mages, spellcasting, and crafting may find Mages of Mystralia quite spellbinding. You play as Zia, a young mage who sets off to train her newly discovered magical powers. On her journeys, she finds different magical runes which she can combine to create new spells. This adventure RPG was written by acclaimed author Ed Greenwood and developed by Borealys Games. The game is set for a spring 2017 release.
Ooblets
What will happen if you combine the monster collecting of Pokemon and the farm gameplay of Harvest Moon? Then you get Ooblets, a visually colorful game about tending and managing your own farm while battling with the cuddly cute monsters you collect called Ooblets. This game is currently under development.
Where The Water Tastes Like Wine
The game Where the Water Tastes Like Wine describes itself as a "bleak American tale." This is an interactive graphic novel game. "Unlike other narrative games, though, this is more like a collection of short stories than a novel," said developer Johnnemann Nordhagen. A mix of country music and rural tales, this game lets the player wander across the country and hear the stories of the people he meets along the way. The game features hand-drawn visuals and country music.
